Nutcracker



NUT CRAGKER Filed Dec. 12, 1942 r 1 A A I 6v n l g I vx j@ A Patented June 12, 1945 -1 Y,

UNITED STATE UFFICE 1 1 claim.

My invention relates to a nut cracker, and has for its principal object to generally improve upon and simplify the existing forms of manually operable nut crackers, and to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive nut cracker having a plurality of pairs of pockets adapted to receive nuts' .of different sizes and shapes while the same are being cracked. 1

A further object of my invention is to provide a nut cracker of the character referred to having recesses especially designed to receive English walnuts, while the same are being cracked, and which walnuts, it will be understood, have ribs which project outwardly along the meeting edges of the two parts of the shell.

With the foregoing, and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved nut cracker.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on kthe line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

`Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on the line 'I--l of Fig. 3. y y

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, Ill and II designate prac'- tically identical jaws, the rear ends of which terminate in handles I2.

The forward end of jaw I I terminates in a disc shaped member I3 which is disposed at right angles to the plane occupied by jaws ID, and said disc is positioned between a pair of similar discs I4 that are formed on the forward end of jaw II.

Passing through the centers of the discs I3 and HI, is a hinge or pivot pin I5 which forms an axis upon which the vjaws swing.

The diameter of disc I3 is slightly less than that of the discs I4, and passing around the forward portion of disc I3, between the adjacent edges of the discs I4, is a bow spring I6, the ends of which are suitably secured preferably by means of screws I'I to they outer faces of the jaws I 0 and I I adjacent the discs I3'and I4.

For the protection of the spring to prevent its striking extraneous objects, and becoming broken or detached, the curved intermediate portion of said spring occupies the recess between the forward portion of disc I3 and the projecting edges of discs |4as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and the ends ofA said spring which receive the screws Il are countersunk in the' outer faces of the jaws so that their outer faces lie flush with the outer faces of the jaws.

The jaws I0 and II'between the discs I3'and I4 and handles I2 are increased somewhat in width, and these widened portions are provided with fiat underfaces.

ately adjacent the recesses I8 are transversely disposed recesses I9 of oval shape, and which are especially designed to receive elongated nuts, such as pecans.

Formed in the flat faces of the jaws immedi. ately adjacent'said recesses I9 are transversely disposed oval shaped recesses 20 of such sizel as to receive English walnuts.

Inasmuch as the shells of English walnuts arey provided along their meeting edges with continu ous outwardly presented ribs, there are formed in the jaws, grooves or channels 2l, which are disposed centrally and lengthwise of the recesses 20. rlhus, when English walnuts are placed in the recesses 20, the longitudinally disposed rib occupies the groove 2l or channel 2I, thus firmly holding the engaged nut and preventing any slippage thereof, while the same is being cracked.

Portions of the flat surfaces of the jaws adjacent the recesses 20 may be slightly depressed and provided with crossed ribs such as 22 in order to rmly engage the shells of irregular shaped nuts, such as Brazil nuts, or for engaging broken portions of the shells of large nuts when it is fur ther desired to further break the same.

Normally the spring I5 maintains the jaws apart, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and the nuts to be cracked are placed in the proper recess in the lowery one of the jaws, and the handles are now manually moved towardeach other with 'sunlcient pressure to break the nut or nuts between the jaws.

When the handles are relieved of manual pressure, spring IB spring said jawsparts, thus permitting the ready removal of the cracked nuts.

Thus, it will be seen that I have provided a nut cracker that is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive of manufacture, and very effective in performing the functions for which it is intended. changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved nut cracker may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described', Without departingfrorn. the 10 spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claim. I claim as my invention:

A nut cracker comprising a. pair of identicsilf- It will be understood that minorv roughened surface.

jaws, a handle projecting from'the rear end of each jaw, the forward ends of which jaws are pivotally connected directly to each other, a spring passing around the pivoted end of the jaws with the ends of said spring connected to the jaws rearwardly from the point of pivoted connection and each jaw comprising a Wide plate having a flat inner face in which is formeda circular recess, an oval recess, a larger oval recess in the bottom of which is formed a longitudinally disposed groove and with an oval recess having a JOHN JACKSON. 

